Requirements for Traditional Preparation
For those looking to make the herbal tea traditionally, all you need is a gourd, loose leaf tea, hot water and your bombilla for filtering leaves. Gourds come in various materials and shapes. A mate cup is a container to hold the tea. There are rites performed when drinking mate tea from a gourd. This includes:
- Gathering in silence
- Passing the cup around
- Ending with conversation
Preparing with a Gourd
To make the South American tea in a gourd, soak dried leaves in hot water and serve with a bombilla. You can make it without a gourd or bombilla using any device you use for coffee or tea. Benefits of the traditional way include extracting all goodness by repeatedly steeping and agitating with bombilla sips.
Gourd Materials and Shapes
Gourd materials include:
- Calabash
- Wood
- Metal
- Glass
- Silicone
Gourds come in various shapes and styles. This method gives a mellow taste. For more intensity, use hotter water or longer brewing. You can also use a French press. Add the herbal tea and let sit before pressing.
Local Customs in Paraguay
In Paraguay, locals often use the mate as a base for herbal infusions. They acquire herbs from a local “yuyera”, or herbalist, and add herbs, or “yuyo”, to their prepared beverage for either health or flavor benefits. Mate infusions are often consumed as cold beverages, which Paraguayans call “tereré”. Tereré may be brewed with cold or iced water or fruit juice.
Best Traditional Gourd
The best gourd is made from a calabash squash. This gourd is natural and handmade in Argentina. It comes in a set with a bombilla straw and cleaning brush. The gourd can hold 5 to 10 oz of liquid. It allows you to enjoy the South American tea the traditional way.